Wreckage all that remains of Flint home after police standoff, shootout

A house on Sherman Avenue between Fulton and Summit streets on Flint's north side stands completely destroyed Thursday, July 10, after a police standoff with a barricaded gunman the day before.Gary Ridley | MLive.com

FLINT, MI -- Crumbled debris is all that remains of a north Flint house where a man was found dead following a standoff and shootout with police.

A house on the south side of Sherman Avenue between Fulton and Summit streets is completely destroyed Thursday, July 10, after an 11-hour standoff ended Wednesday, July 9, when police brought in heavy equipment to remove the home's roof after gunfire was exchanged between troopers and a barricaded gunman who police say may be responsible for two Flint homicides.

Flint police found a body in the upstairs of the house, where they say Daron Raymond Gaylor Jr., 22, was armed during the confrontation. Officers could not confirm the cause of death nor the identity of the body.

"What we can say is that we were able to use the equipment to get in the dwelling, and we have an individual who is deceased," said Flint Police Chief James Tolbert. "We believe it is Mr. Gaylor, but we cannot confirm at this point. This is now a crime scene and we will process it as such."

The house still remained taped-off Thursday morning and two Michigan State Police cruisers could be seen guarding the home. A child's toy could be seen on the sidewalk in front of the home.

Police declined to comment on who owned or lived at the home.

Old police tape can still be seen hanging from trees and power poles Thursday morning after police removed the two-square block perimeter they had set up around the home during the standoff. Water bottles, cups and other garbage still line nearby streets after hundreds came out to the neighborhood Wednesday to watch the standoff.

The standoff began at 10:30 a.m. near the corner of Sherman and Fulton Street, Around 5 p.m. Michigan state troopers entered the home, and said Gaylor opened fire on them, Michigan State Police Lt. Brian Cole said. One trooper was hit, but suffered non-life threatening injuries. By the final update, police said the officer was doing well.

Arrest warrants were issued for Gaylor listing charges of first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder and three other gun charges after police claim his involvement in a June 2 double shooting that killed 28-year-old Ali McZick and critically injured 19-year-old Tyrell Gaylor near Martin Luther King Avenue and Welch Boulevard.

Police also wanted to talk with him in regard to a July 5 shooting that resulted in the death of previously injured Tyrell Gaylor – Daron Gaylor's cousin – and left an 8-year-old boy critically injured.

Authorities have not commented on any motive behind the killings, but they did say they were family related.